ICCC Communique #33 dated February 4, 2023
Purpose: To provide an update on the activities, accomplishments & upcoming events of ICCC.
(Note: Please click on Link(s) for additional information)
———————————————————————————————————
Dear Friends,
- ICCC Collaborations – Participation in Community Events
ICCC Mission is: “To Connect, Communicate & Collaborate with the Indo-Canadian & Inter-cultural Communities in Ottawa.” Accordingly, ICCC actively participated in the following two events of the newly formed “Alliance of Indo-Canadian Organizations” (15 organizations to date):
-
- Reception for His Excellency, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma, the newly appointed High Commissioner of India to Canada – 12th November 2022
- Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas Celebrations – 25th January 2023
The Alliance plans to celebrate a few events in large numbers during the year, and this will strengthen ICCC’s Vision: “A United Indo-Canadian Community Thriving in the Canadian Mainstream.”
Note: Your cooperation in encouraging other organizations to collaborate with ICCC and join its growing list of ICCC Collaborations will be greatly appreciated.
2. ICCC 50th Anniversary Celebrations
Since 1973, ICCC’s endeavours have been to serve Ottawa’s Indo-Canadian community and to preserve and enhance India’s rich heritage and cultural values. Further, ICCC’s new modus-operandi, since 2017, by providing various platforms and opportunities, all undertaken with your kind cooperation and understanding, have resulted in additional programs and services for greater community involvement. During 2023, ICCC Board and Program Chairs will be using ICCC’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations LOGO in both existing and new endeavours.
Note: Kindly encourage your network of contacts to join ICCC by filling out the Community Directory Form (click here). An instructional video to fill out this form is available on the website.
3. Donations – I. Tax Receipts
The receipts for your Life Membership contributions and donations for I. Tax purposes have been sent. Please note that ICCC policy is to recognize donors on the website, and that a donor may opt for privacy considerations. Please contact treasurer@icccottawa.org for additional information.
4. ICCC Seniors Programs
ICCC Seniors Program, comprising of numerous initiatives, is attracting newcomers and you can join these on the Zoom platform during the winter months. Seniors’ weekly meetings (every Thursday 1:00-4:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon), Brain Health Program, BUDDY Groups, Indian Meals on Wheels (click here), Dance for Seniors, Computer Literacy classes, etc. ensure seniors’ welfare through regular contact with each other. ICCC Seniors Diwali Celebrations attracted over 180 attendees. Please contact chair-seniors@icccottawa.org for additional information.
5. ICCC Social Network of Women (S.N.O.W.) Program
The Zoom virtual monthly meetings, annual fund raising for women’s shelter and other charities, and details of the new successful initiative “School Backpack Program” by S.N.O.W. are available on the website. Please contact Dr. Indu Gambhir at indu.iam@gmail.com for additional information.
6. ICCC Youth Program
Numerous essays, PPT presentations and educational guides developed by the youth to enhance awareness about India’s festivals, rich heritage, and cultural values, to enable integration of growing number of students from India in the Canadian society are available from the ICCC Youth Program (click here).
Note: ICCC seeks community professionals as volunteers to provide guidance/mentorship to university students for its Mentorship Program component of the ICCC Youth Program. Please contact president@iccottawa.org to indicate your area of expertise for implementing this program.
7. ICCC Charity & Philanthropy Program
‘Giving Back to the Community’ is a cherished value of our rich Indian heritage, and the community generously donates for various causes including food banks, shelters, educational endeavours (e.g., EKAL Vidyalaya, university scholarships), hospitals, etc. ICCC Partnership/Collaboration initiatives with various charities are growing to enhance the Indo-Canadian community profile in the mainstream. ICCC genuinely appreciates donors’ cooperation in channeling donations to CRA approved charities via ICCC to support its Charity & Philanthropy Program – please see ICCC Donations Summary – 2022 (click here).
ICCC is also thankful to all who have shared their donation information, on a confidential basis, with ICCC for its planned publication: “Annual Report – Donations by the Indo-Canadian Community of Ottawa,” with an objective to enhance the community profile in the Ottawa mainstream – see ICCC Communique No.32 (click here). Kindly Donate via e-transfer to treasurer@icccottawa.org and contact president@icccottawa.org for additional information.
N.B.: In compliance with its policy, ICCC does not collect/channel donations for religious and political purposes.
8. ICCC Virtual Hub – Portal & Website: icccottawa.org
Presently, this is our Virtual Community Centre – a valuable resource with the latest in computer, social media, and internet technologies. ICCC provides a variety of platforms and opportunities for greater community involvement, and constantly encourages all to share expertise and skills beneficial for the community at large. Please review Dr. Rao Nanduri’s essay: “INDIA CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE” (click here) on the Community Forum. You may also access photographs and videos of the Community Celebrations on the ICCC website (https://icccottawa.org) and YouTube.
Note: Your feedback to improve the Virtual Community Centre and cooperation in direct postings on various forums will be greatly appreciated.
9. ICCC APPEAL & OTHER INFORMATION
ICCC celebrates the accomplishments of the members of the Indo-Canadian Community in Ottawa. We welcome the news and information about the honours and accomplishments of all Indian diaspora in Ottawa, so we may post them on the ICCC Virtual Hub (Events Calendar, Forums, Social Media, etc.).
The Indo-Canadian community is blessed and richly endowed in all walks of life. ICCC values community input and is striving hard to raise the community profile in the Canadian mainstream. Please come forward with your suggestions, join ICCC and support its initiatives to highlight the significant contributions of Indo-Canadians, raise the community profile and jointly accomplish ICCC’s Vision: “A United Indo-Canadian Community Thriving in The Canadian Mainstream.”
Kindly share and celebrate the above information with your colleagues, friends, family, and other networks.
Please Stay Safe & Healthy: Inspired, Active and Socially engaged (virtually).
Kind Regards,
For and on behalf of the Board of Directors, Program Chairs & Volunteers,
Kanwal (Ken) Talwar
President, ICCC
613-866-5623
E-mail: president@icccottawa.org
Website: https://icccottawa.org
